"May you LIVE all the days of your life" - J. Swift

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

A great entrepreneur and a sucker

Continuing my "learnings from a child" section:


I was at my parents’ house one day, home from college, studying for a test.  At the time, no one else was home, and I heard a soft knock at the door.  As I opened the door, I looked down to see a visitor about 4 years old standing with a cup full of berry-type items that had come from a nearby tree, I assume.  He looked up at me and, in his best salesman approach, asked, “Would you like to buy these?  They can be fun and you can throw them at people.”  (The last part was particularly effective :).  I thought, “Just what I’ve been looking for (right?).”  I asked his price, and he didn’t really have an answer for me… I kind of got the impression he didn’t expect to get past step 1 to have to worry about setting an amount.  Well, I told him to wait for a minute.  I went into my former bedroom and found a cup full of pennies.  I grabbed a handful, brought it to the door, and exchanged the pennies for my new artillery.  He very excitedly took the pennies, thanked me and left.  I smiled, and went back to the kitchen table to study further, periodically glancing and grinning at my cup of berries.  I felt good… I mean, he had a sales pitch, took his time to collect the items and really earn that money… and I got to support him.  Yes!  I think I was his first sale of the day (maybe his life), and I felt good that I was able to contribute to a small business such as his. 

About two minutes later came another soft knock.  I thought to myself, “Oh no… I don’t think I want to buy any more things to throw at people, I’m already well stocked as I haven’t yet had an opportunity to use what I already have.”  But I shouldn’t have worried.  As I opened the door, I realize it’s not the same kid.  It must have been his brother.  This child had no cup of berries.  No real sales pitch. Empty handed, this boy just looked up at me and said, “Can I have some money?”
 
Hmm… Not the same entrepreneurial spirit,… but he must know a sucker when he sees one, and, so, I rewarded his efforts somewhat as well.  But, you know, I’ve learned as well… so don’t go asking me for money!  I’m not going to give it to you.  Or maybe I will, but it’s just going to be a handful of pennies. 

Monday, May 28, 2012

The Child’s Mite


And more learnings from children...

A close friend of mine was preparing for a mission, and, knowing the cost of a mission and her family’s lack of money at the time, was discussing her worries with her mother one day.  Her young sister, about 8 or 9 years old, overheard this conversation.  Later, an envelope appeared underneath my friend’s bedroom door.  Inside the envelope was a small amount of money, and a note that read, “It’s not much, but it’s all I have, and I want you to have it.”  It was from this sister. 

This girl got it.  And taught me a lesson that has lasted more than half my life.  Money is a tool to be understood and used for the best purposes.  Not something to be preserved only for our gain.  And the same girl has become a friend who has taught me more lessons than she knows because she does get it.  She understands that people and relationships are more important than any “thing” in life.  She has grown into a woman that I respect and admire. 

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Lucky


A question was asked today in relief society… I can’t remember the exact wording, so I’ll put it in my own words: What’s an experience you’ve had with a child that taught you something because they really got it... because they really understood what’s important and good?  One of those things that as adults we sometimes miss or forget?

Being a teacher, these things happen all the time.  But so often I neglect to record them and thus forget them.  So, I’m going to write a few I do remember here over the coming days.  Here goes…

LUCK

One day I was running in the neighborhood, my characteristic three-mile run.  I was kinda in my own world… listening to my music, trying to forget that I was in the most strenuous, uphill portion of this particular route, when I saw a boy of around 6 or 8 years old wave me down.  I didn’t know this boy… I was far enough away from my own street that I had never seen him before.  And, while I normally pressed through this unfavorable part of my run, I slowed to a stop, muted my music, and asked what he needed.  In great excitement, he said, “Come here!  I want to show you something.”  Now, I don’t know about you, but I just couldn’t say, “No, kid, I’m on a strict schedule… gotta keep running.”  Yeah, pretty much like anyone would have done, I decide to humor him and follow him over to his front lawn.  I was the one he humored in the end.  He crouched down, had me do the same, and showed me, among many 3 leaf clovers, a 4 leaf clover… then loudly exclaimed, “I’m LUCKYYYYY!!!”   (and yeah, he carried that second syllable of “lucky” on for a while in the same loud voice).  I celebrated with him for a moment, and eventually continued on my run with a smile on my face that I couldn’t wipe away.  It was a simple but profound moment for me.  Why?  What did that experience teach me?  Well, how about to take time to notice the small gifts around me, the glass half full perspectives in all the simpleness that surrounds each day.  I learned the value of sharing that with others, too.  Because I was grateful to him for sharing his 4 leaf clover with me.  He shared his luck and his spirit at that moment in a contagious manner.  And I was happier for it.  I felt maybe a little more than lucky that I "ran" into him that day.   


Sunday, May 6, 2012

Trying to figure out Good, Better, Best

Picture and musings from a moment of pondering in the mountains this morning:




I’ve been struggling lately with the good, better, best concept. (See Elder Oak's insightful talk: Good, Better, Best).

I’ve been doing plenty of "good" with my time.  In fact, my life has been blessed with far more "good" opportunities than I feel I deserve.  Somewhat overflowing with the "good", I've been struggling to find the time to do even the "necessary" some days.  

So... I’ve come to learn the past week through a bit of pondering that this is my challenge right now: When I am presented with a bunch of good, enough to completely fill my days,... am I willing, really willing, to sift through it and follow the "best" ahead of the "better" and "good"?  Especially if the "good" seems more fun and inviting?  Or will I at least seek to know if the "good" I'm filling my time with is also what's best?

Sadly, I’ve figured out that this is my latest trial by failing... a few times.  Or more.  See, while the "good" brings with it many memorable and fun moments and experiences for which I am so grateful, when there could have been something better or best to do in those moments, I have been feeling the rough impact on myself (anxiety, a feeling that something's not right, not knowing what to do,...) and on others (hurt, etc.) in the aftermath.  However, thanks to the idea that there still is a lot of good in my life, perhaps Heavenly Father is still giving me time to learn the intended lesson(s).

I know that our Heavenly Father loves each of us and knows us intimately and the challenges that we face.  He knows perfectly well what we are prepared to learn, and gives us mountains to climb (President Eyring, General Conference April 2012) when necessary, or sometimes hills, or sometimes we just get to learn it on a level walk.  All in an effort to prepare us for unimaginable blessings ahead.

How grateful I am for the atonement that allows us to learn, be taught, be healed, and be prepared.  I was studying today about the balm of gilead, and grateful once again for a testimony of the truest healing balm,... that when things are hard… when struggles and sorrows are great in my life, I am blessed enough to know exactly where to turn.  And by turning there, I find peace.  I find healing.  

Undeserved, but profoundly grateful, I thank my Savior for his loving, continuing, and eternal gift of the atonement, and the mercy of a loving Heavenly Father who provided the perfect plan of salvation, and continual lessons along the way to help me prepare to attain that salvation through the power and blessing of the atonement.

As I keep these things in mind, I have a feeling I will be able to master good, better, best... not through my own power, but through His.... If I submit my will to that true power.